Moose Lake, MN vs Thief River Falls, MN

Thief River Falls is moderately more affordable than Moose Lake, with a 5.5% lower cost of living index. Moose Lake scores 75 compared to 71 for Thief River Falls, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Moose Lake can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Moose Lake is $901/month compared to $884/month in Thief River Falls — a 2% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Thief River Falls is more affordable at $169,300 median vs $205,000.

Median household income in Moose Lake is $61,576 compared to $65,244 in Thief River Falls (-5.6%). Thief River Falls offers a double advantage: higher earnings combined with a lower cost of living, giving residents significantly more purchasing power. Looking at affordability, residents of Moose Lake spend roughly 17.6% of their income on rent, more than the 16.3% in Thief River Falls.

Climate-wise, Moose Lake is notably warmer with an average of 41.4°F compared to 37.7°F in Thief River Falls. Moose Lake receives more rainfall at 33.3" per year compared to 24.3" in Thief River Falls.